The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. It's neither steep or particularly tough, but the constant sequence of false summits can make it a heartbreaking experience for an already fatigued rider. Llangynidr Mountain is very much a climb of two halves. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. Thankfully it eases off as it reaches the higher levels, giving you the chance to recover before the summit while taking in stunning views of Hay Bluff and the English borders. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . The average gradient might "only" be 8.3%, but that's reduced by the steady stretch of false flat that precedes the summit. 1. Now on Station Road, take the third left after crossing the rail line on to Bushcombe Lane between the two 25% signs. Wales treated us quite well on our visit in August 2018. You have to take each and every opportunity to recover when it is presented, no matter how slight he says. Where Leave the A66 in Appleby-in-Westmorland, head north past Brampton, and left through Dufton to arrive in Knock. I had to go and check it out. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. -- Climbs taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (8.99, . Pass Castell Coch on your left, feel the smooth false flat underneath your wheels and the scent of wild garlic in the air, and you'll think you're in for an easy couple of miles. You're now face to face with the vicious 25% corner which delivers you on to the cruel slopes that cling to the side of the sheer bank. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. The climb begins as we pass a set of old farm buildings on the left. Where Head north into the mountains from Ballater on the A939. Now straightening up, the next stretch is ridiculously hard, the main problem here being just staying upright while either side of the road, sheep wait to see if yet another rider falls victim to the Chimney. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Simon Warren for his books generally and for his contribution of Top 10 lists for PJAMM Cycling. Afon Ddu from Trefriw is the toughest ascent with a difficulty score of 621. Holding a straight line is becoming all but impossible and the effort needed is simply unsustainable. Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. Pen-y-Pass is the climb out of Llanberis on the A4086 up to the Pen-y-Pass lodge where several walking routes to the summit of Snowdon start from. Its so incredibly steep that even 10 seconds of going too hard early on and youll blow it, you really have to measure it just right., Dan Jones's climbing prowess and local knowledge showing on the steeper sections of Abdon Ddu. Babusar Pass, 4. Best time to cycle J F M A M J J A S O N D Ranking list Wales Difficulty points Gradient Length Total ascent Bath Since that . My bike is creaking. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. A headwind, on the other hand, and it can be a real grind. Finish at the car park at the top of the climb. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . This climb has one very steep segment near the beginning of the climb: a full half-mile at 16.5%. South Wales needs no introduction. He was in north Wales pinching some of my best KOMs so I thought he deserved some punishment. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. With a maximum gradient of 22% and an average gradient of 8.1% youre afforded great views of Aberdare the higher you climb. It is an incredible climb both ways but the road from Tornapress, heading north-west, is just awesome. I can see why. This spectacular virtual fly-through shows the stunning route of the 2016 Velothon Wales, Huge vintage clothing warehouse where you can get designer brands at a fraction of the price, The Thrift operates over a huge 12,000 sq ft and stocks big brands as well as a value section, Superdrug anti-aging cream called 'botox in a tub' by shoppers, Optimum Collagen Day cream is priced at 14.99. Youll see the Foel Y Gordd formation as you enter the canyon area. The average gradient of the climb is 2.9% and the maximum gradient is 13%. Increasing in steepness as it passes old industrial relics, the road winds its way up the side of a breathtaking gorge, with just a few boulders between separating you and the 10% gradient from the edge. Cross the cattle grid onto a long straight 7% drag that takes you into the trees. Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. A few weeks later I arrive with our photographer Andy, Dan and his wife Jess - a hill climb champion in her own right - to share the experience with them and get the local low down on this insane 700 metres of vertical concrete. The climb is really unique. In 2021 we contacted Simon Warren requesting his picks for the Top 10 Most Epic and Top 10 Hardest bike climbs in (1) Wales, (2) England, (3) Scotland, and (4) the UK. The sign reading 20% as you cross a stream on the beautiful valley road from Talybont-on-Usk is the first hint of the lung-busting effort that awaits you. And yet it's easy to forget that it's also one of the toughest. This is the story of how he found it and just how painful it is to ride. Through a second gate it's easy for a while then bending right once again it's leg-breakingly tough to the finish at the station, where, looking around you, you might as well be on top of the world. Llano de las Animas, 7. Grid ref: NJ 252 118 (OS37) Length 3.01km Height gain 245m Approx climb time 21 mins, This is it: the Holy Grail, the toughest and wildest climb in Britain. And yet once you get to the top, you'll realise you enjoyed every second. Grid ref: SD 862 843 (OS98)Length 5.34km Height gain 323m Approx climb time 22 mins, On the eastern edge of the Long Mynd lies the infamous Asterton Bank, also known by many other names that I could not print here. Climbing up through Bedlinog is such a challenge because its so deceptive. When I first tackled Hardknott Pass in the Lake District I assumed nothing could ever beat that, but then a few years after I discovered the road up to Abdon Burf in the Shropshire Hills and my perception of torture was changed. Hit the opening 12% slope too hard and you're finished - because it's followed by a sequence of bends with gradients rising above 30%. Factoring in a pretty torrid road surface too means reaching the top of this wall is an achievement few will ever accomplish. Unceremoniously I hit the floor and proceeded to tumble southwards just missing Jess by millimeters (how she stayed upright Ill never know and sincerely I apologise for ruining her QOM attempt). The gradient kicks up to 14% as you head through the Cimla area of Neath, before a descent the other side takes you down into the Afan Valley. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). Unlike national parks in other countries, Snowdonia (and other such parks in Britain) are made up of both public and private lands under central planning authority. Electric Mountain, 5. Repeatedly, you'll think you're through the worst - only to be hit again with the next step of the staircase. Follow the base of the ridge until you reach Asterton then turn right past the post box and head up. By the time that respite comes, you've climbed nearly 800ft. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble and line the road as the Tour of Britain cyclist near the finish, Abergavenny. Sign up with your email address to receive offers, news and updates. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech Since that first book, he's added 11 more, as well Ride Britain which showcases 40 inspirational road cycling routes. #3 HARDEST WELSH CLIMB -BWLCH PENBARRA TO JUBILEE TOWER, Cycling Bwlch Penbarras to Jubilee Tower, Wales. Turn left after around a mile though, and everything changes. Learn More ALL TRIPS They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Don't let the urban nature of this climb fool you - it's not easy. Signup for our. The steepest paved street in Pittsburghand one of the toughest climbs in the USmakes the top spot on our list. It's a testing drag, with the incline quickly kicking up to 9% and staying there or thereabouts much of the way to the top. Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. ANDY! I scream, we are coming. United Kingdom: England's Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs, United Kingdom: Hardest and Epic Bike Climbs, United Kingdom: Scotland's Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs. This page provides an excellent and comprehensive summary of the top, hardest and best bicycling climbs in Wales. Is it the suffering? Based in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Simon continues to keep riding his bike uphill and guides rides, hosts events and gives talks on climbing hills on bikes! . The surface is rough at first and steep from the outset, but improves as you pass over a cattlegrid and approach the double hairpin. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. Within a few hundred feet of the start point, a switchback of over 20% warns you of the battle to come. From bend two the road swings left, kicks up then eases back to rumble across a cattle grid and so far, so pretty ordinary but then, up ahead the road arcs away to the right and here it begins to look serious. In fact the Welsh flag has an imposing Dragon on it. Pass the clock tower, and things step up a notch, with a straight 16% ramp taking you (via a flatter terrace section) onto the climb proper. Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Height gain 286m It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Where Leave the A684 that runs through Hawes and head south on Gayle Lane to Gayle. Stay up to date with the latest developments. VIDEO: Snowboarder Climbs Tree To Evade Angry Moose. Once past an axle weight sign the climb begins. A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Afon Ddu, 7. Simon and Dan get to grips with Pythagoras Theorem. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. You start your ascent from the beautiful Corgarff castle and straight away you hit 20% slopes rough, relentlessly steep and twisting a little. The road levels slightly but the. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. And it's so steep, close to 25% at the point where the tall valley walls disappear and the radar slowly rises over the horizon to sit above you, tracking the remainder of your progress. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. With summer temperatures routinely. Therefore, after Bealach na Ba (UK #1 Most Epic and #4 hardest), Bwlch y Groes might be the second best bike climb in all the land. | 26 regions. The scene of a brilliant double ascent during the 2013 Tour of Britain, this iconic route out of Caerphilly also features as the final climb in the Velothon Wales loop of South Wales. We asked Simon Warren to provide us with lists of both the Top 10 Hardest, and Top 10 Most Epic bike climbs in England, Wales, Scotland, and the UK. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. Zig-zag past cascading waterfalls, amidst the brief protection of rocky outcrops to exit this tangle of tarmac and round one final left hand to finish. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. Where Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head north east towards Aber-Cywarch. Where: Heading north out of Cymmer in the Afan Valley. WOW - enough said! (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (, Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-Y-Groes. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. 2. Ahead lies 30 metres that has every single ounce of muscle straining like a weight lifter attempting to raise four times their body weight above their heads. A great alternative to the Cray climb (see above) - this starts from the same point, but instead of taking the main road, bears left up a narrow lane into a desolate moment top. - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. There, in front of you, painted on to the side of the mountain and looking like a giant flight of stairs, lies the rest of the climb. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). I can now hear Jess approaching from behind, her 34 x 32 slightly more suited to the venue than my 34 x 28, judging by her colourful language I assume I am in her way. What comes next will take your breath away. For a while there I thought Id settled it. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. Stunning and rugged, the Black Mountain (and you) are open to the elements. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. "Cycling in south Wales is a completely different story. We believe we have located and thoroughly documented the Top 10 Hardest (by Fiets and by Simon Warren) and 10 Most Epic (Simon Warren) and these are accessed via the Map or List above on the Wales Home page just above this Climb Area Summary.